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campaign and virtually writing ICAC off. Mr Cater, however, while not concealing that the amnesty was a blow to ICAC, made it plain from the start that he understood and supported the Govenor's action and did not regard the anti-corruption campaign as over. He also contested assertions published in the press here and in Hong Kong to the effect that corruption remained
as rife as ever.
4. In addition to its much publicised operations work, ICAC carries out two other important anti-corruption functions:
corruption prevention, by examining the
5.
(i)
procedures of all Government departments in order to identify and eliminate anything that facilitates
corruption;
(ii) public education, through a vigorous and wide-
ranging information campaign, to try to change public
attitudes and eradicate the widely held belief that
corruption is an unavoidable part of the Hong Kong
cultural tradition.
I recommend that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should congratulate Mr Cater on the achievements of ICAC under his leadership, and assure him that the Commission has HMG's fullest support in its battle against corruption. The Minister may then wish to ask
Mr Cater for his latest assessment of the position as regards corruption in Hong Kong, and seek Mr Cater's views on ICAC's most important taks in the next few years.
6.
Mr Thompson from this Department will be present at the meeting.
17 July 1978
cc:
Mr Cortazzi OPA
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W.E. Quantill
WE Quantrill Hong Kong and General Department